(This is one of his sanyasi asking a question.)
Osho, if your not our leader, why do we get clear messages from the master to do this or that?
I am certainly not your leader, and I never was before. The very word "leader" stinks of politics. In the world of righteousness there no leaders, no followers, because to be lead by some is to remain blind. He knows- you do not know. You have to simply be his shadow, following his footprints wherever he goes.
Religious experience is totally different. The function of the guide is acceptance. The guide has not to be followed, but understood. The guide can tell you about his experience, the path that can lead to the peak of existence. But he also knows that every individual is unique; hence, you cannot follow another persons footprints. You will need to find your own path. There are not ready-made paths- and that's the beauty, the beauty of total freedom.
The guide is a friend; he is not a leader. A leader is ugly. He reduces you, insults you, makes you puppets. He decides for you, you are not to allowed to decide for yourself. For example, Jesus says to his followers, " I am your shepherd, you are my sheep". I am amazed that not a single disciple stood up and said, "This is humiliating, you are degrading us, putting us below human beings". Just to become a shepherd thousands people have to be reduced to sheep- to fulfill one man's mad ego. How many million people have been reduced to subhuman levels?
I am certainly not your leader, I do not want anybody to remain retarded, to remain blind, to become dependent on me. I do not want to become your father figure. As you walk you create the path. By your very search you create the truth.
